Delivery & Your Hospital Stay

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Delivery & Your Hospital Stay

We want your childbirth stay with us to be a part of your good and special
memories of having a baby. We recommend that you take a tour of the Maternity
Care Center where you will be delivering two to eight weeks before your
due date.

Labor, Delivery, Recovery, Postpartum (LDRPs) Rooms

Each has a bathroom, shower, television, telephone, rocker, table and chairs,
a bed for mom plus full size sleeper so the support person can spend the night.

A nurse-call system for help is in every maternity room and in every bathroom.

Infant Security

Southeast Georgia Health System ensures the security of every newborn through
the use of:

An infant electronic tracking system (baby tags and unit sensors)

Special identification bands

Cameras, security locks and controlled, observed traffic on and off of the unit

Special hospital ID badges for all staff

To protect privacy and add additional safety for new families:

Birth information is not given out over the phone

Family and friends should be told to call members of the new family for
labor and birth information

We discourage the publication of birth announcements in local newspapers
and church bulletins

We actively advise against announcing baby’s arrival with:

Storks or other signs in the yard

Banners on the front or garage door

Balloons on home mailboxes

Smoking

Southeast Georgia Health System provides a smoke-free environment for its
patients, visitors and employees. Smoking is a health hazard for everyone
but especially for babies and children. It is not allowed anywhere inside
our hospitals.
Babies and children who are around cigarette smoke have increased health risks:

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)

Upper respiratory infections

Allergies and lung problems.

If there are smokers in your family, we recommend that smoking only take
place in a part of the house that is closed to babies and children. If
this place is outside of the home, make sure it is not at a main entrance
or somewhere children play.

Length of Stay

Following labor and birth, new mothers and babies are in the hospital for
only a short while:

Vaginal delivery moms, without complications, go home 24 to 48 hours after birth

Cesarean birth moms usually go home 48 to 72 hours after birth, but sometimes
may need to stay as long 96 hours

This time is figured from the baby’s delivery time

Before discharge home, mom and baby must each reach the criteria for discharge:

Be in healthy, stable condition- determined by their doctor

Be taught about mom’s recovery needs and care

Be taught about baby’s needs and care

Mom states she understands discharge instructions for herself and her baby

Mom shows the ability to correctly care for herself

Mom shows she can safely care for and correctly feed her baby

Have information about needed follow-up appointments

Have orders written for discharge by the OB doctor and pediatrician

Visiting

The husband, father of the baby or designated birthing partner is welcome
to come and go throughout the hospital stay, as needed. This person is
not considered a “visitor.”

One person may spend the night with the new mother and baby, if desired.

Following delivery, grandparents and siblings may visit, as the new mom
desires, in her hospital room. While siblings of any age are allowed to
visit, other children must be 12 years or older to visit.

An adult (not the new mom) needs to always be present to supervise young
siblings or visiting children

The healthy newborn remains in mom’s room when visitors are present
(We do not have traditional “viewing nurseries.” Moms and
babies are separated only for health care reasons.)

New parents should screen visitors for any signs of infection, asking anyone
with the following to wait to visit, much less touch the baby, until they
are better:

A cold, the flu or an upper respiratory infection

Diarrhea or stomach flu

A rash of unknown cause

A fever

A sore throat

Cold sores

Any contagious condition

Hand washing with antibacterial gel or soap and water should always be
done immediately before anyone touches or holds the new baby.

To allow mom enough time for rest and required care and teaching during
her brief hospital stay, we recommend that visits be limited to short
periods of time (15-30 minutes).

Often it may be best for extended family and friends to wait until mom
is settled at home to visit.

Once home, new parents should continue to screen visitors for signs of
infection and make sure anyone handling the baby washes their hands first.

Parking

Parking is located in the lots near the main entrance to maternity services
and the main entrance of both campuses

Please use this entrance when coming in for labor and delivery

Wheelchairs are available if needed

Cafeteria

Hospital cafeterias are located on the lower level of the hospitals. They
serve a variety of hot and cold foods. Hours of operation are posted by
the entrance doors.

Vending machines are also available

Financial Information and Pre-registration

There are several things you can do ahead of time to help avoid insurance
slow-downs and surprises:

Check now with your insurance company about coverage for mom and a new baby

Find out what co-payments or deductibles are required

Notify your insurance company soon after the birth of the new baby (to
enroll baby as a new dependent)

Birth Practices, Preferences and Options

Make sure you are talking with your OB doctor at every prenatal visit about
this pregnancy and your childbirth concerns, expectations and preferences.
Your doctor has a wealth of knowledge and experience to share with you,
plus knows you and your health conditions.